2017 will be noted in the history of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas as the first time it held its regular weekly meeting on Wednesday. Coincidentally, it’s also the 150th anniversary of the Confederation of Canada. To mark the latter, MP Karen Vecchio and MPP Jeff Yurek invited local residents to nominate 150 people and organizations for recognition awards.

 

Among the 150 were some familiar faces! In the picture above, from left to right, can be seen MPP Jeff Yurek; President-Elect Gerry Janssen, who accepted an award on behalf of the Rotary Club of St. Thomas; Nancy Lovelock, who, along with husband Paul, was an award winner; Pat Martyn; Trudy Kanellis, who, with husband Nick, was another winner; Bill Horn, yet another winner; and MP Karen Vecchio.

 

 

But today’s Club Assembly amply demonstrated that the Rotary Club of St. Thomas is not content to rest on its laurels. Nor is the Interact Club. Youth Director Trudy Kanellis reported that Interactors would be in Port Stanley acting as marshals at Sunday’s Railway City Road Races, before heading off to a breakfast with volunteer firefighters in Union. On Saturday, September 30 they have a car wash at Mister Transmission from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Trudy also notes that wheels are in motion both for the Dictionary and the Adventure in Citizenship programs, and that Teddy Bear sales are going great.

 

 

Bill Horn (4) – For a daughter’s and a granddaughter’s birthdays; for being a recipient of Canada 150 recognition; for similar recognition given to the Club and other Club members.
Pat Martin (4) – For Malcolm and Donna Rust who assisted her in the setting up of the Canada 150 presentations on Sunday; for the Rotary Club of St. Thomas which received an award; for Nick & Trudy Kanellis, Paul & Nancy Lovelock and Bill Horn who received awards; for a play she saw at Stratford called The Komagata Maru Incident which was based on the true story of Sikhs seeking asylum in Canada being denied entry to Vancouver in 1914.
Malcolm Rust (1) – Happy to be back at a regular meeting at the Wayside.
Ron Somerville (4) – For winning the 50/50; for the birthday gift of a tour of Trent University and an overnight stay in Peterborough; for all the awards given to the Club and Club members; for the good news that friends of his son in Boca Raton were unaffected by the hurricane.
Adriana Balderas (1) – For the 17th birthday of her nephew and godson.
Gerald Vreman (1) – For the Rotary Music Festival Committee – things are going very well.
Trudy Kanellis (3) – For the Canada 150 award presented to herself and Nick, and to the Club and Paul and Nancy Lovelock and Bill Horn; the Wayside’s Monday closing has worked out well.
Nancy Lovelock (3) – For summer. It rained for all but three days in July, says Nancy, and she had company throughout the month of August, but “still I enjoyed it.” She adds that she is glad to be back: “I think.”

 

Past President Nancy Lovelock was in the chair in the absence of President Trish who, with husband Stew, is vacationing in Ireland where it is raining. Not so here: a beautiful summer day. International Service Director Pat Martyn stated that she is looking into a donation to Shelter Box as a response to the immense destruction wreaked by hurricanes in the Caribbean. Assistance to victims of natural disasters was clearly on the minds of Club members who were advised to check the ROTI and Rotary International web sites for ways to help.

 

Pat also mentioned that Rotary Christmas Tour of Homes tickets would most likely be ready in another two weeks. Members should start canvassing for silent auction items. Trudy will make a list of who canvassed what from whom last year and make it available.

 

Club Service Director Ron Somerville noted that World Polio Day would be observed by the Club on Tuesday, October 24, beginning with a rally on the steps of St. Thomas City Hall at 11:30 a.m. and a flag raising ceremony. Lunch at Legends will follow. Nancy will give some purple crocus bulbs to the City to be planted in the hope that when they bloom in the spring of 2018, polio will be eradicated.

 

Public Relations/Media Director Malcolm Rust commended Suzanne Ferguson for getting Club meetings into community listings and Trudy for updating the Club’s Facebook page. He noted that the Times-Journal has been “resistant” to using contributed items while the Weekly News has been more receptive. Club Treasurer Mike Moore said that he is still trying to finalize net revenue numbers for the Food Trailer. Payments to other Rotary clubs who assisted at the Food Trailer need to be worked out.

 

Guests today included Maggie Horn, wife of Bill; Kathy Willson, wife of Ed, and Paul Farris, a Visiting Rotarian from the Rotary Club of London East. Welcome all!

 

Ron Somerville was winner of the 50/50 draw…. Sergeant-at-Arms Ed Willson was poised to fine Bill Horn for drawing his own ticket but was thwarted by the hand of fate, much to Bill’s relief. Fine Master Adriana Balderas quizzed members on the names of the current Rotary International President (Ian Riseley) and the RI President Elect (Barry Rassin). Mr. Rassin is from the Rotary Club of East Nassau, Bahamas and was selected to replace Sam F. Owori (from Uganda) who died of cardiac arrest on July 13, just two weeks into his term. The 2018 Rotary International Convention is in Toronto, “The capital of nice” according to an article in the September issue of The Rotarian.